U.S. patent number 4,245,616 [Application Number 05/888,473] was granted by the patent office on 1981-01-20 for solar tracking device.
Invention is credited to Richard R. Wyland.
United States Patent |
4,245,616 |
Wyland |
January 20, 1981 |
Solar tracking device
Abstract
A solar tracking device having a plurality of reflector banks
for reflecting the sun rays onto collector tubes and heating a
fluid circulated therethrough. The reflector banks synchronized to
follow the sun during the daily and yearly cycle of the earth as
the earth orbits around the sun. The device by accurately following
the sun provides a more efficient means of collecting solar
energy.
Inventors: |
Wyland; Richard R. (Wichita,
KS) |
Family
ID: |
25393235 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/888,473 |
Filed: |
March 20, 1978 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/579; 126/641;
126/694; 126/609; 126/663 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24S
23/74 (20180501); F24S 30/40 (20180501); Y02E
10/47 (20130101); F24S 2030/133 (20180501); Y02B
10/20 (20130101); Y02E 10/40 (20130101); F24S
2030/134 (20180501) |
Current International
Class: |
F24J
2/54 (20060101); F24J 2/06 (20060101); F24J
2/00 (20060101); F24J 2/14 (20060101); F24J
003/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;126/270,271,424,425,438,439 ;237/1A ;60/641 ;353/3
;350/288,292 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Yeung; James C.
Assistant Examiner: Jones; Larry
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Widdowson; John H.
Claims
I claim:
1. A solar tracking device mounted on a base, the device collecting
heat from the sun and heating a fluid, the heated fluid circulated
from the device and used as a heat transfer medium, the device
comprising:
a reflector bank rotatably mounted on a collector tube, said
collector tube disposed adjacent the length of said reflector bank
and centered thereon, said reflector bank reflecting the sun rays
onto said collector tube for heating the fluid which is circulated
through said collector tube;
a reflector bank frame, the ends of said collector tube attached to
said reflector bank frame, said reflector bank frame supporting
said collector tube and said reflector bank thereon, said reflector
bank frame being generally semi-circular in shape, the ends of said
semi-circular reflector bank frame attached to the ends of said
collector tube;
first drive means mounted on said reflector bank frame and
connected to said reflector bank for rotating said reflector bank
one revolution every twenty-four hours so that said reflector bank
follows the sun as the earth rotates;
a support frame adapted for mounting on the base, said reflector
bank frame rotatably mounted on said support frame; and
second drive means adapted for mounting on the base and connected
to said reflector bank frame for rotating said reflector bank frame
on said support frame so that said reflector bank remains
perpendicular to the sun during the change is azimuth during the
course of one year.
2. The device as described in claim 1, further including a
plurality of reflector banks rotatably mounted on collector tubes
attached to said reflector bank frame, said reflector banks having
a parabolic design for reflecting the sun rays onto said collector
tubes.
3. The device as described in claim 1 wherein said second drive
means is an azimuth drive gear motor, said azimuth drive gear motor
having a drive gear attached to a chain drive, said chain drive
connected to a drive pulley, said drive pulley having a gear
attached thereto, said gear engaging a gear tooth rack mounted on
said reflector bank frame for rotating said reflector bank frame on
said support frame.
4. A solar tracking device mounted on a base, the device collecting
heat from the sun and heating a fluid, the heated fluid circulated
from the device and used as a heat transfer medium, the device
comprising:
a reflector bank rotatably mounted on a collector tube, said
collector tube disposed adjacent the length of said reflector bank
and centered thereon, said reflector bank reflecting the sun rays
onto said collector tube for heating the fluid which is circulated
through said collector tube;
a reflector bank frame, the ends of said collector tube attached to
said reflector bank frame, said reflector bank frame supporting
said collector tube and said reflector bank thereon;
first drive means mounted on said reflector bank frame and
connected to said reflector bank for rotating said reflector bank
one revolution every twenty-four hours so that said reflector bank
follows the sun as the earth rotates, said drive means being a
twenty-four hour drive gear motor, said motor having a drive gear
attached to a chain drive, said chain drive connected to a drive
pulley mounted on one end of said reflector bank for rotating said
reflector bank on said collector tube, and said motor having an
irregular movement in revolving one rotation every twenty-four
hours, the irregular movement corresponding with the irregular
movement of the earth's yearly orbit around the sun so that said
reflector bank continuously follows the sun as the earth
rotates;
a support frame adapted for mounting on the base, said reflector
bank frame rotatably mounted on said support frame; and
second drive means adapted for mounting on the base and connected
to said reflector bank frame for rotating said reflector bank frame
on said support frame so that said reflector bank remains
perpendicular to the sun during the change in azimuth during the
course of one year.
5. The device as described in claim 4 wherein said twenty-four hour
drive gear motor includes a cam plate mounted thereon and having an
eccentric surface corresponding with the irregularities of the
earth's movement around the sun, said cam plate speeding up or
slowing down the output of said twenty-four hour drive gear motor
so that said drive gear motor accurately tracks the sun during the
irregularity of the earth's orbit around the sun.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention relates generally to a solar collection
system for heating a fluid using the sun rays, and more
particularly, but not by way of limitation, to the use of reflector
banks used for reflecting the sun rays onto collector tubes for
heating the fluid. The reflector banks rotating once every
twenty-four hours as the earth rotates in its daily cycle. Also,
the reflector banks adjust daily so that they remain perpendicular
to the sun during the change in azimuth of the sun, during the
course of one year.
Heretofore, there have been various types of solar collectors which
are adapted for tracking the sun and collecting solar energy
therefrom. Also, there have been various solar collectors using
reflector panels having a parabolic design. In particular, U.S.
Pat. No. 1,047,554 to Nichols and U.S. Pat. No. 4,015,585 to Fattor
disclose parabolic reflecting surfaces for transmitting solar
radiation. In re-issued U.S. Pat. No. Re. 25,242 to Toulmin and
U.S. Pat. No. 4,010,614 to Arthur, solar tracking apparatus is
disclosed for following the sun during the earth's daily rotational
cycle. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,031,385 to Zurlaut et al, and U.S. Pat.
No. 3,986,021 to Hitchcock, rotational tracking systems of solar
collectors are also disclosed.
None of the above prior art patents disclose the specific structure
of the subject solar tracking device, nor do these patents disclose
the advantages of the invention as described herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention provides a solar tracking device for
collecting heat from the sun and heating a fluid. The device is
characterized by revolving reflector banks one revolution every
twenty-four hours so that the reflector banks follow the sun as the
earth rotates. Also, the tracking device is adapted for rotating
the reflector banks so that the banks remain perpendicular to the
sun during the change of the sun's azimuth in relation to the earth
during the course of one year.
The tracking device further includes means for rotating the
reflector banks so that irregularity or aberrations of the movement
of the earth in its yearly orbit around the sun are compensated for
and the reflector banks accurately track the sun during these
irregular movements.
The invention is suitable for installation on existing homes,
business buildings, and various other building structures without
major modifications of the structure. Also, the tracking device may
be installed on any flat surface area which is exposed to the sun
light for a major portion of the day. The solar tracking device is
adapted for heating fluids such as water so that the hot water may
be circulated as a heat transfer medium for heating homes,
buildings, or the like.
The solar tracking device is mounted on a base and includes a
plurality of parabolic reflector banks rotatably mounted on
collector tubes. The collector tubes are disposed along the length
of the reflector banks and centered thereon. The reflector banks
reflect the sun rays onto the collector tubes for heating a fluid
which is circulated through the collector tubes. The reflector
banks and collector tubes are supported on a reflector bank frame.
A first drive means is mounted on the reflector bank frame and
connected to the reflector banks for rotating the reflector banks
on the collector tubes one revolution every twenty-four hours, so
that the reflector banks continuously follow the sun as the earth
rotates. The reflector bank frame is rotatably mounted on a support
frame. A second drive means is mounted on the base and connected to
the reflector bank frame for rotating the reflector bank frame on
the support frame so that the reflector banks remain perpendicular
to the sun during the change in azimuth of the sun in relation to
the earth during the course of one year.
The advantages and objects of the invention will become evident
from the following detailed description when read in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred
embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the solar tracking device mounted
on a flat base and connected to a water reservoir for heating water
therein.
FIG. 2 is an end view of a reflector bank illustrating the
parabolic reflector design of the reflector bank.
FIG. 3 illustrates a pair of reflector banks synchronized for
rotating 360.degree. in tracking the sun during the earth's
rotation.
FIG. 4 is a side view of a reflector bank mounted on a reflector
bank frame and a support frame.
FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a twenty-four hour drive
gear motor which is connected to a chain drive for rotating the
reflector banks one revolution every twenty-four hours.
FIG. 6 illustrates a partial view of the reflector bank frame and
azimuth drive gear motor for rotating the reflector bank frame so
that the reflector banks remain perpendicular to the sun during the
change in azimuth.
FIG. 7 is a front view of a cam plate for correcting irregularities
in the earth's rotation during the course of the earth's yearly
cycle around the sun.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In FIG. 1, the solar tracking device is designated by general
reference numeral 10. The device 10 is mounted on a flat base 12
and connected to flexible intake pipe 14 and flexible discharge
pipe 16. A fluid such as water or any other fluid used for
collecting heat is circulated by a circulating pump 18 with the
pipes 14 and 16 connected to a plurality of heating coils 20 in a
fluid reservoir 22. The heat received in the reservoir 22 is
transferred to a plurality of coils 24 and circulated by a
circulating pump 26 through a plurality of coils 28 disposed above
a conventional blower 30 used for heating and cooling a building
having duct work 32 shown in dotted lines. While the reservoir 22,
blower 30, and duct work 32 are shown, it should be appreciated
that there are various types of heat transfer mediums that can be
used for collecting the energy received and circulated through the
coils 20 when the fluid therein is heated by the solar tracking
device 10. Also mounted on top of the base 12 is a heat expansion
tank 34 for providing for the expansion of the fluid when it is
heated by the tracking device 10 and expanded in the pipes 14, 16,
and the coils 20.
The device 10 includes a plurality of reflector banks 36 rotatably
mounted on collector tubes 38. The ends of the collector tubes 38
are mounted on bearing blocks 40 which are attached to a
semi-circular reflector bank frame 42. The collector tubes 38 are
centered in front of and along the length of the reflector banks 36
and are connected to the flexible intake pipe 14 and discharge pipe
16 for circulating fluid therethrough. The reflector banks 36
receive the sun's rays thereon and reflect the rays onto the
collector tubes 38 for heating the fluid as it is circulated
through and along the length of the collector tubes 38.
The reflector banks 36 rotate 360.degree. on the collector tubes 38
by a twenty-four hour drive gear motor 44 having a drive gear 46
attached to a drive chain 48 which in turn is connected to drive
pulleys 50 mounted at the lower end of the reflector banks 36. The
drive gear 46 is geared to make one revolution per twenty-four
hours. By rotating the reflector banks 36, the banks 36 receive the
sun's rays from sunrise to sunset and continue to follow the sun
during the nighttime until the sun again rises.
The reflector bank frame 42 is rotatably mounted on rollers 52
attached to a support frame 54. The reflector bank frame 42 is
rotated on the support frame 54 by an azimuth drive gear motor 56
having a drive gear 58 attached to a chain drive 60 which in turn
is attached to a drive pulley 62. The drive pulley 62 is mounted on
the support frame 54 and is attached to a gear 64, shown in FIG. 6,
which engages a portion of the reflector bank frame 42.
In FIG. 1, the reflector banks 36 mounted on the reflector bank
frame 42 are oriented toward the south with the length of the
collector tubes 38 providing a north-south axis for rotating the
banks 36 thereon. The length of the reflector bank frame 42 from
right to left is positioned in an east-west direction. By rotating
the reflector bank frame 42 daily, the reflector banks 36 are
oriented so that they are perpendicular to the sun as the sun
changes its azimuth in relationship to the earth as the earth
rotates around the sun.
In FIG. 2, a top view of one of the collector banks 36 is
illustrated with the collector tube 38 centered in front of the
collector bank 36. The surface of the reflector bank 36 has a
parabolic design so that the parallel sun rays indicated by arrows
70 are reflected from the surface of the reflector bank 36 to the
collector tube 38 thereby heating the fluid which is circulated
inside the collector tube 38. While the parabolic design of the
reflector bank 36 is illustrated, it should be appreciated that
other types of reflector surfaces could be used equally well on the
reflector banks 36 for transmitting the sun's rays to the collector
tube 38.
FIG. 3 is an end view of a pair of reflector banks 36 having drive
pulleys 50 connected to the drive chain 48 which is attached to the
drive gear 46 of the twenty-four hour drive gear motor 44. In this
figure, the two reflector banks 36 can be seen rotating 360.degree.
as represented by arrows 72.
In FIG. 4, a side view of the reflector bank 36 is illustrated for
depicting the change in azimuth of the sun in relationship to the
earth. While the degree of slope of the reflector bank 36 on the
support frame 42 will vary depending on its location on the earth's
surface, the change in azimuth of the sun in relationship to the
earth is a constant 47 degrees. The change in slope of the
reflector bank 36, shown in solid and dotted lines, would represent
the typical slope of the bank 36 in an installation on the North
American continent. When the reflector bank 36 is lowered to its
lowest position shown in FIG. 4 in dotted lines, this slope would
represent the position of the reflector bank 36 on June 20. After
June 20, the reflector bank 36 daily will begin rotating clockwise
until it reaches its highest position, shown in dotted lines, at
December 20. After December 20, the direction of the reflector bank
36 is reversed and the bank 36 is rotated counter clockwise until
it again reaches the position at June 20.
In FIG. 5, a perspective view of the twenty-four hour drive gear
motor 44 is illustrated. The motor 44 includes a synchronous motor
80 attached to a worm gear drive shaft 82 which in turn is geared
to a bevel gear 84 attached to an output shaft 86. The output shaft
86 is attached to the drive gear 46 which is used for driving the
drive chains 48 and rotating the reflector banks 36. Mounted on the
output shaft 86 and positioned adjacent the drive gear 46 is a
pointed trip lever 90 which contacts an electric switch arm 92 of a
switch 94 which is electrically wired to the azimuth drive gear
motor 56. The lever 90 rotates one revolution every twenty-four
hours, contacting the switch arm 92 and turning the azimuth drive
gear motor 56 to an "on" position so that a daily correction may be
made in the change in the azimuth of the sun.
The twenty-four hour drive gear motor 44 further includes a
plurality of spur gears 96 geared to the output shaft 86 and
engaging a cam plate 98 having an eccentric outer circumference 99
which is discussed in detail under FIG. 7. The cam plate 98 is
geared to make one revolution every 3651/4 days. The outer
circumference 99 of the cam plate 98 is engaged by a cam roller 100
which is attached to a cam arm 102 which in turn is geared to the
output gear 46 for providing an oscillating motion which in turn
slightly speeds up or slows down the rotation of the output shaft
86 to compensate for irregularities or aberrations which occur in
the regular progression of the earth in its annual eliptical orbit
around the sun. This known fact of the irregularities of the
eliptical orbit of the earth are incorporated into the subject
invention so that the reflector banks 36 are continuously oriented
directly toward the sun any time of the year and perpendicular
thereto.
In FIG. 6, a side view of the azimuth drive gear motor 56 is
illustrated with the gear 64 engaging a gear rack 103 in a portion
of the semi-circular reflector bank frame 42. By rotating the gear
64 on the gear rack 103, the 47.degree. azimuth change is adjusted
daily so that the reflector banks 36 are continuously perpendicular
to the sun. When the trip lever 90 actuates the switch 94, the
switch 94 turns on the azimuth drive motor 56. When the azimuth
drive motor 56 is turned on, the gear 64 rotates on the gear rack
103 moving the semi-circular reflector bank frame 42 either
upwardly or downwardly until a switch arm 105 attached to a second
electrical switch 104 contacts one of a plurality of azimuth pins
106. The switch 104 is attached to a portion of the support frame
54. When the switch arm 105 contacts one of the azimuth pins 106,
the second switch 104 is opened. The second switch 104 is wired to
the first switch 94 and in turn opens the switch 94 stopping the
azimuth drive gear motor 56. It should be noted that the plurality
of azimuth pins 106 are mounted along a portion of the
semi-circular reflector bank frame 42 with the distance between the
individual pins 106 representing the degree of change of azimuth
from day to day. As June 20 and December 20 are approached, the
individual pins 106 are spaced closer to each other since the
degree of daily change in the azimuth becomes less and less.
To change the direction of the azimuth drive gear motor 56, a pair
of reversing pins 108 and 109 are mounted on the sides of the
semi-circular reflector bank frame 42 for contacting a reversing
switch 110 having a pair of switch contacts 112 for contacting the
pins 108 and 109. The reversing switch 110 is attached to a portion
of the support frame 54. The switch contacts 112 contact pin 108 at
June 20 to reverse the direction of the azimuth drive gear motor 56
so that the reflector bank 36 begins to rotate in a clockwise
direction until it reaches December 20 and then contacts the second
reversing pin 109 to again reverse the direction of the reflector
bank 36 in a counter clockwise direction. The electrical wiring of
the switches 94, 104, and 110 is not shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, but it
can be appreciated that anyone skilled in electrical wiring could
wire the switches as described.
In FIG. 7, the eccentric outer circumference of the cam plate 98 is
illustrated. Also seen in this view is the cam roller 100 attached
to a cam arm 102 which in turn is attached to the gear drive 46 of
the twenty-four hour drive gear motor 44. As mentioned earlier, cam
plate 98 rotates one revolution per year. Point A on the cam plate
98 represents December 20 and at this position at twelve o'clock
noon the sun is exactly due south. At point B, representing
February 5, the sun is sixteen minutes late in reaching a zenith
point or due south. Therefore, at point B, the radius of the
eccentric surface of the plate 98 is less than the radius at point
A and the cam roller 100 will have slowed down the output of the
twenty-four hour drive gear motor 44 to compensate for the sun
being sixteen minutes late in reaching due south. Point C
represents April 15. At this point, the sun is normal with the
zenith at twelve o'clock noon. Point D represents May 5 and at this
point the sun is six minutes fast. Therefore, at this time because
the radius to point D of the cam plate 98 is greater, the gear
motor 44 is increased in speed. At point E, which represents June
20, the sun is normal with the zenith. On August 1, represented by
point F, the sun is again six minutes slow. Point G represents
September 1 and at this time the sun is 16 minutes fast. When the
cam roller 100 again contacts point A on December 20, the sun is
due south at twelve o'clock noon. By making high and low lobes on
the eccentric surface of the cam plate 98, means for imparting an
oscillating motion for speeding up or slowing down the output of
the drive gear 46 is accomplished to correspond with the gain or
lag of the sun as the earth rotates in an irregular eliptical
orbit.
Changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the
parts or elements of the embodiment as disclosed herein without
departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in
the following claims.
* * * * *